Arch support and bunion protector



Jan. 7, 1936. A.' Mms-:NTA ZMZTQS ARCH SUPPORT AND BUNION PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 27, 1953 Inventor,

MM ttorny.,

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ARCH SUPPORT AND BUNION PROTECTOR August Mirenta, Tacoma, Wash.

Application October 27, 1933, Serial No. 695,463

This invention pertains to devices to be worn within a shoe for the support of the metatarsal arch of the human foot. It also relates to devices for the protections of bunions that have become painfully inflamed and enlarged.

The object of this invention is to provide a removable device to be worn Within a shoe which will raise the metatarsal arch by means of a gradual elevation of the support for the metatarsal bone heads. At the same time the most important object of the invention is to provide a bunion protector for sufferers of enlarged and painful metatarsal-phalangeal articulation of the first joint behind the great toe, a condition that is most always in connection with a dislocated condition of the metatarsal bones known as metatarsalgia.

I attain these and other objects by means of the simple device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which:-

Figure l is a top view of the device of my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the device shown in Fig. 1 looking to the left from the line 2-2 Fig. 3 is a view of the inner side of theA human foot showing the device applied thereto; and Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 3 with the metatarsal bone heads and the toe bones and joints indicated.

Corresponding numerals of reference refer to like parts in each of the different figures of the drawing.

Metatarsalgia is caused by wearing ill fitting foot gear in which the fore part of the foot has been so cramped that the toe joints, muscles and tendons have not room to function freely when the wearer is standing or walking. In order'to secure the necessary relief, the heads of the dislocated metatarsal bones must be raised, causing a normal articulation ofthe metatarsal heads with the first bones of the toes.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I secure this relief by means of the device shown in Fig. l. The device is a special form of an insole I to be worn within a shoe and is made to extend from the heel of the foot to a curved line 5 just back of the indicated bone heads 4, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. f

The insole support I is p-referably made of firm soft leather, though it may be made of any suitable material. The edges are to be shaped and formed to fit the inner sole of the shoe. As an article of manufacture, it is designed to be made of sizes to correspond with the number and widths of shoes now on the market .and thus be available to those who have need of it.

An extra layer of material 2 is glued or attached to the under side of the insole I to provide the rounded thickness necessary to secure the arch support. This makes the device approximately three-eighths of an inch thick at its center on the line 2 2, and the part 2 is evenly rounded to its edges, as shown in Fig. 2. This under piece is preferably of material more soft and pliable than the part I, and at the front end one side is extended in a semicrcular flap-like form to provide a flexible shield 3 to be upturned against the side of the foot just back of the metatarsal joint of the great toe, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2 and as shown at 3 in Figs. 3 and 4.

Should the insole part I and the under part 2 be made of one piece, the shield 3 may be attached with glue or by other adhesive means. The shield is to be of a firm cushion-like substance.

With persons suffering from metatarsalgia and enlarged rst joint known as bunion, this special form of insole is designed to be inserted within a comfortably fitting shoe, a shoe that does not cramp the toes laterally nor lengthwise. When so inserted, it will cause mechanical action and adjustment of the metatarsal bones to take place. Simultaneously the shield 3 upturned against the metatarsal phalangeal joint back of the great toe, gently and positively supports and forces the enlarged first joint into a seminormal state. In doing so its protection prevents and relieves pain otherwise present from friction and pressure of the shoe. By continual use of the protector within .a comfortably fitting shoe, the bunion Will eventually be cured.

The important consideration in preventing pain and obtaining the desired relief is due to the fact that the cushion-like shield 3 serving as protector, must hug or come at rest slightly behind the rst metatarsal phalangeal articulation. Otherwise it fails in its purpose. Also, the bunio-n protector 3 must be wide enough and long enough to apply the desired protection.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the broken lines indicate the metatarsal bone head 4 of the great toe as partially forced out of natural adjustment because of the toes being compressed within a shoe that is too narrow and too short. This indication is only of a. mild form of what is commonly known as bunion. Cases much more extreme in form have been developed.

When the fifth metatarsal phalangeal articulation becomes enlarged and painful similar to the great toe, I reserve the right to attach a shield to the outer side of the insole I for its protection the same as for the great toe. I

therefore reserve the right to attach the cushionlike flexible bunion protector to either the inner side or to the outer side of an insole and arch support as herein described. It will in either case efficiently serve its purpose from the fact that adopted shoe sizes are to guide its construction and manufacture, thus assuring proper sizes to those requiring relief from the pains described.

Another important fact to be observed is, that in addition to giving relief to the painfully enlarged metatarsal phalangeal joint, it prevents the shoe from becoming distorted and abnormal in shape.

It is imperative that the insole l must extend only from the heel of the foot to a curved line just back of the metatarsal bone heads and in practically parallel alinement therewith. This will leave the toes free to function naturally and to regain their normal articulation and eventually to become well and free of pain. The bunion shield attached to this insole as described, makes a new and useful combination in that it obtains .immediate relief from pain While the normal articulation is being regained.

It is to be observed that I do not limit myself to any one kind of material, but reserve the right to use any suitable material, such as soft flexible rubber, or a combination of flexible fibrous materials of any kind that will secure the object to be attained in the manufacture and application of my invention. I further reserve the right to manufacture the invention entirely of one piece of material and to vary the form and size of the same as conditions may require.

Having described my invention, I claim:-

In a ,combined metatarsal arch support and bunion protector, an insole member having the contour of the inside of a shoe from the ball to the heel and an extra layer of soft, pliable material attached to the forward end of said member, said layer having a generally convex shape of sufficient extent to fill and support the anterior metatarsal area of the Wearers foot and an integral bunion-protecting shield turned up at its inner side for engaging a small lateral area of the Wearers foot just rearward of the head Vof the first metatarsal.

AUGUST MIRENTA. 

